Radio Across Time Zones : Hour 1


The Unforgettable Songs
Jiang Sunwan, Xie Wenxiu, Zhang Jingmin, Ma Xiaolin - Producers
China National Radio, 1987

The sounds of the tumultuous Yellow River overlaid with a shepherd's folk song.

Visit the China National Radio website and listen to their live stream (in Mandarin!)

Flanking on the Far Day
Kelly McCarthy, Kent Hoffman - Producers
Outfront, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2006

Kelly McCarthy tells this story about her father, his recent heart attack, his love for his Harley, and his life philosophy -- including "flanking on the far day".

"Turning your world on its ear" : Listen to more stories from the CBC's Outfront.

The Cameroon Opera
Jose Pivin - Producer
Radio France, 1976

A memorable sonic scene from the Cameroonian brush : birds in distress, the sound of an axe, and the crash of a tree as it falls.

Les rendez-vous des antennes! Click here to hear more from Radio France.

Snow on Plum Blossom
Barbara Entrup - Script Editor
Malte Jaspersen - Director
Radio Berlin-Brandenburg / Kulturradio, 2004

Springtime in Japan : the theme of countless Haiku and soulful pop songs, spectacular Kabuki and elegant Noh plays, short stories and novels. In Japan spring begins in winter, and evidently with a lot of noise....

Listen to a longer excerpt of Snow on Plum Blossoms while following along with an English transcript.

Read about TCF Managing Director Julie Shapiro's adventures at the IFC in Sinaia, Romania, where "Snow on Plum Blossom" was originally presented.

Dreaming of Fat Men
Lorelei Harris - Producer
RTE (Radio Ireland), 1994

Here's the set up : four women, all very large, are invited to a radio studio in Ireland that has been transformed into a sumptuous boudoir - lots of pink, some low lighting, candles, china, crystal, and an enormous elaborate feast. None of these women had ever met before, but what ensues is a long conversation about everything : food, fat, longing, love, power, family, and chocolate.

Hear all 41 delicious minutes of "Dreaming of Fat Men" and read an interview with producer Lorelei Harris, in which she discusses her unconventional methods.

Resonance 104.4 FM

In London, on 104.4 FM, there's a radio station like no other. Tune in and you might hear a show devoted to the cultivation of bonsai trees or an hour of deep cuts from vintage Congolese records. After that, perhaps, "Calling All Pensioners" (a show for seniors), "Schlock! Horror!" (a parade of b-movie trailers), or maybe the complete works of William Blake, read aloud. This laboratory of experimentation is called Resonance FM. It was launched nine years ago by the London Musician's Collective and it's now a community station, operated by four permanent staff members and over 300 volunteer technical and production staff. Resonance FM prides itself on an open access policy which allows anyone a chance to get on the air. It broadcasts 24 hours a day and is dedicated to radio art, free-form absurdity, the undiscovered, the forgotten, and the impossible.

Learn more about Resonance FM, listen to a live stream, download their podcasts, and consider donating to their cause.

Read an interview with Resonance FM programmer Ed Baxter.

Why I Did It?
Peter Borenich - Producer
Magyar Radio (Radio Hungary), 1976

Aunt Bori, age 52, is paralyzed and has decided to end her life. Her daughter, Kati, struggles to take care of her mother, at enormous personal cost. And the microphone unflinchingly records this family drama, exploring the boundaries between public and private life. With this piece, the Hungarians invented authentic reality radio.

Listen to Magyar Radio online.

Karaoke Counselor
Natalie Kestecher - Producer
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A story of love and heartbreak, therapy and song -- this piece teeters delightfully on the edge of fact and fiction, exploring the difficult question of what to do when your marriage has soured. You might try traditional couples' therapy. OR you could explore the possibilities karaoke has to offer.

Listen to Radio Eye, the ABC program on which Karaoke Counselor originally aired.

Narrative deceptions, perverse fictions, audio portraiture: listen to a presentation by Natalie Kestecher from the 2003 TCF conference.

Featured Music

Lullatone, “Floating Away," Lullatone Plays Pajama Pop Por Vous (Audio Dregs, 2007)
Air, "Night Sight", Pocket Symphony (Astralwerks, 2007)
Lullatone, “Magical..." Lullatone Plays Pajama Pop Por Vous (Audio Dregs, 2007)
Eglantine Gouzy, "Come Back " 4 Women No Cry Vol. 1 (Monika, 2004)
Battles, "UW", EP B, (Monitor Records, 2004)
People Press Play, "These Days", People Press Play (Morr Music, 2007)
Melodium, "You Can't Help Me", Music for Invisible People (Autres Directions in Music, 2006)
Eglantine Gouzy, "Boa" 4 Women No Cry Vol. 1 (Monika, 2004)